December 27. 1919 



HORTICULTURE 



55] 



I thoroughly believe we shall never 

 improve, for the reason that we cannot 

 pick .any earlier than we do now, nor 

 can we extend the season in early sum- 

 mer. To get large plants we would 

 have to extend the growing season, 

 which is out of the question, as earlier 

 propagation cannot be considered. I 

 have heard of a variety producing as 

 many as 21 blooms per plant in New 

 England, but the average is not more 

 than 14 per plant. If every variety 

 would produce fourteen per square 

 foot we should have no worries. 



We can make the carnation as popu- 

 lar as we wish by proper cultural 

 methods, proper handling, and ship- 

 ping. We can grow varieties that are 

 usually good keepers, and spoil them 

 with an application of fertilizer that 

 is entirely unsuited to them, or we can 

 ruin them by improper ventilation. 

 Now it is very important that we pro- 

 duce the finest of stock, if we are to 

 keep the carnation in the class of 

 popular flowers. We should endeavor 

 to have the store man prepare suitable 

 places to show and store them. I 

 know there is much room for improve- 

 ment in the majority of good florist 

 stores. I believe there is in sight a 

 much better race as regards keeping 

 qualities, and the American Carnation 

 Society is making every effort toward 

 this end, going so far as to offer pre- 

 miums for the best keepers at the ex- 

 hibitions, taking into consideration 

 the time packed, and in transit as a 

 base toward making awards. 



Keeping qualities are the most es- 

 sential points in carnations of to-day. 

 Color, size and form are only second- 

 ary. Of what use are they as cut flow- 

 ers unless they last long enough to 

 give joy and pleasure to milady over 

 several days. 



Color, Size and Fragrance. 



We know good color is very impor- 

 tant, also size, to a certain extent, and 

 that fragrance is also considered es- 

 sential, but how many customers buy 

 for fragrance? I assume with confi- 

 dence that the numbers are very, very 

 small indeed, but they do ask for the 

 kinds that keep best. Now let us grow- 

 ers go after the varieties that have 

 these qualities, and then do our level 

 best toward producing stock that will 

 be a credit to the profession. We can 

 do it. The carnation adapts itself to 

 all soils, and it is only a question of 

 a little study for a man to find out 

 the treatment required by them in any 

 particular soil or locality. 



While I am speaking, I want to say 

 a word for the American Carnation 

 Society. The members are working 

 for you all, doing their very utmost to 

 improve the carnation in every way, 



FAMOUS WABAN ROSES 



Grown unci mild cxcltiHlvely by 



WABAN ROSE CONSERVATORIES 



Uosi-s ut wliolcHale; shipped by express anywhere. 



Kinds: Russell, Hadley, Ophelia, Premier, Thayer, Brilliant, Killarney, 

 White Killarney. Contracts given for minimum deliveries daily or weekly, 

 with protection in Holiday Seasons. 



Write or telephone 



Mention this Paper 



BOSTON OFFICE, 15 BEACON STREET 



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iDollratl) & Sous 



Plant Specialists 



I POINSETTIA, single and made up pans. Quality 



unsurpassed 



CYCLAMEN — BEGONIAS 



Come and Intpcct Out Stock. Never in Better Condition 



139 Beaver Street 



WALTHAM, MASS. \ 



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F> L. A IM T S 



Cyclamen, $1.50 and up; Begonias, 75c to $2 each; Poin- 

 settias, single, 50c, 75c and $1 each; pans, made up with 

 Ferns and Peppers, $1.50 to $4 each. 



FERNS, Scottii, Verona, Boston and Roosevelt, 50c to $2 

 each. 



FRANK EDGAR, 



Waverley, Mass. 



but it is a slow job and they want our 

 help, your moral and financial support 

 in their work. Come over and join 

 them, the dues are very low, $2.00 per 

 year, and once you are a member at- 

 tend some of the conventions and ex- 

 hibitions. You will be better for it, 

 you will be stronger for the carnation, 

 and for the trade in general. Don't 

 ask what shall I get out of it, for there 

 is as much to be gotten out of it as 

 you care to take away, or as much as 

 you go after. 



One of the chief causes for com- 

 plaints against the carnation is in im- 

 proper handling by the middle man, 

 and the store man. One sees them 

 laying around on the benches and 

 counters, being handled by numerous 

 prospective customers in a very care- 

 less manner, often very roughly, this 

 should not be allowed, one doesn't han- 

 dle roses, orchids or gardenias in such 

 manner. Why? Simply because they 



are considered more valuable, we must 

 see to it that more respect is given 

 carnations. In these times of high 

 prices we must save every flower, de- 

 liver them to the storekeeper in the 

 best possible condition, and he to the 

 consumer, if we are to keep the carna 

 tion in the class of popular flowers. 



VALUABLE ORCHIDS BURNED 

 A number of valuable orchid plants 

 which were being sent in a small auto- 

 mobile delivery truck from the green- 

 house at Beverly Farms of Albert C. 

 Burrage to his residence at 314 Com- 

 monwealth avenue, Boston, were de- 

 stroyed by fire when a charcoal heater 

 in the rear of the truck tipped over 

 and ignited the excelsior packing 

 around the flowers. Frank Cadigan. 

 the driver of the truck, extinguished 

 the blaze with a blanket although an 

 excited pedestrian summoned the ap- 

 paratus. 



